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A rendering of the proposed condominiums on the north side of Rogers Avenue, prepared by architect Jerry Rumplick.
Critics and fans of a proposal for a 52-unit condominium development in Westhampton Beach had their last chance to publicly share their thoughts concerning the project’s draft environmental impact statement at the Village Planning Board’s April 8 meeting.
The proposal is for 52 units spread among 13 buildings, plus a community center, a pool and a tennis court on a 9.4-acre former asphalt plant site. Eight are three-bedroom units, 36 are two-bedroom units, and the last eight are one-bedroom units designated for affordable housing.
The draft environmental impact statement is part of the process mandated by the State Environmental Quality Review Act to identify all of the impacts a large development project may have on a community before it is voted up or down.
Neighbors in opposition to the plan have hired local attorney Carl Irace to make their case against adopting the draft environmental impact statement.
Mr. Irace, whose law practice is based in East Hampton, told the Planning Board April 8 that the draft is “fundamentally incorrect” and therefore cannot be adopted as-is. “Without these things being corrected — if they can be — I don’t think the board has jurisdiction to approve it,” he said.
He criticized the notion that the proposed condos, including the ones designated for affordable housing, would be “starter homes” at the expected prices.
Mr. Irace also said the draft failed to address the cumulative impacts of a planned senior center nearby and the Amazon warehouse planned at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton.
He challenged the board’s authority to approve an application that would change the existing lot lines and a 2-acre easement drawn on the land. Those lot lines were part of a past subdivision application that was OK’d but never developed.
Though the property is 9 acres, once the easement is deducted, that leaves six 1-acre lots and 1 acre of road, Mr. Irace said. Those lots can accommodate one single-family or two-family home each under zoning, so when the draft says the site could yield 18 single-family homes as-of-right, that’s incorrect, he said.
“The term ‘as-of-right’ has been misconstrued and used improperly, and it’s misleading, and it creates a very exaggerated yield here,” he said.
An applicant, under the village’s comprehensive plan, may ask the Village Board to permit up to six multifamily units per acre, at the board’s discretion, he noted, but he said six units each on these six 1-acre lots would only yield 36 units, not the 52 units that the applicant is asking for.
Steven Schneider, a Ronkonkoma-based civil engineer hired by residents to scrutinize the draft, said the impact of the Amazon facility should be part of the traffic study, and he explained why he finds the applicant’s traffic study that was conducted in August 2020, amid the pandemic when traffic was low, inadequate.
Frank Isler, a Riverhead-based attorney, spoke on behalf of the applicant and offered retorts to Mr. Irace’s arguments. He asked for the hearing to be closed and the draft be adopted so his client could proceed to prepare a final environmental impact statement that will address all of the concerns that have been raised.
On the notion that the 6-lot subdivision still stands, Mr. Isler said that was approved when the land was zoned industrial, but today’s application is in accordance with the current multifamily zoning.
“The site plan that we’re preparing is completely compliant with the yield requirements of the multifamily zoning,” he told the Planning Board. “We’re subject to a special permit application that we have to follow after we are completed with the site plan review. Certainly, during your site plan review the public will have many opportunities to comment on the site plan itself.”
Village resident Sally Morris spoke in favor of the plan, saying that housing that is more affordable is needed for younger people and people trying to move back into the village who can’t afford what’s on the market now.
Ms. Morris’s son, Kieran Morris, said he finds townhouses to be a positive for the community that will provide opportunities for younger people.
“It’s no secret that the real estate market out in the Hamptons has gotten out of control,” he said. Townhouses will be an entry point for young families with quality jobs who will contribute in taxes and be a part of the community for many years to come, he added.
Resident Lori Solomon was opposed to the number of units proposed and said the number of cars it will add to the streets will change the character of the neighborhood.
The Planning Board voted to close the public hearing with a 10-day written comment period. The board will meet again Thursday, April 22, at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Visit westhamptonbeach.org to join.
